Coefficient of variation method combined with XGboost ensemble model for wheat growth monitoring.

Introduction: Obtaining wheat growth information accurately and efficiently is the key to estimating yields and guiding agricultural development. Methods: This paper takes the precision agriculture demonstration area of Jiaozuo Academy of Agriculture and Forestry in Henan Province as the research area to obtain data on wheat biomass, nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, and leaf area index. By using the coefficient of variation method, a Comprehensive Growth Monitoring Indicator (CGMI) was constructed to perform fractional derivative processing on drone spectral data, and correlation analysis was performed on the fractional derivative spectra with a single indicator and CGMI, respectively. Then, grey correlation analysis was carried out on differential spectral bands with high correlation, the grey correlation coefficients between differential spectral bands were calculated, and spectral bands with high correlation were screened and taken as input variables for the model. Next, ridge regression, random forest, and XGboost models were used to establish a wheat CGMI inversion model, and the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean squared error (RMSE) were adopted for accuracy evaluation to optimize the wheat optimal growth inversion model. Results and discussion: The results of the study show that: using the data of wheat biomass, nitrogen content, chlorophyll content and leaf area index to construct the comprehensive growth monitoring indicators, the correlation between the wheat growth monitoring indicators and the spectra was calculated, and the results showed that the correlation between the comprehensive growth monitoring indicators and the single indicator correlation had different degrees of increase, and the growth rate could reach 82.22%. The correlation coefficient between the comprehensive growth monitoring indexes and the differential spectra reached 0.92 at the flowering stage, and compared with the correlation coefficient with the original spectra at the same period, the correlation coefficients increased to different degrees, which indicated that the differential processing of spectral data could effectively enhance the spectral correlation. The three models of Random Forest, Ridge Regression and XGBoost were used to construct the wheat growth inversion model with the best effect at the flowering stage, and the XGBoost model had the highest inversion accuracy when comparing in the same period, with the training and test sets reaching 0.904 and 0.870, and the RMSEs were 0.050 and 0.079, so that the XGBoost model can be used as an effective method of monitoring the growth of wheat. To sum up, this study demonstrates that the combination of constructing comprehensive growth monitoring indicators and differential processing spectra can effectively improve the accuracy of wheat growth monitoring, bringing new methods for precision agriculture management.

Gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to fine particulate matter: RNA sequencing analysis.

Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with cardiovascular diseases. In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms of air pollution-induced CVDs toxicity, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to PM2.5 collected from January, 2016 winter in Beijing, China. We performed RNA sequencing to elucidate key molecular mechanism of PM 2.5-mediated toxicity in HUVECs. A total of 1753 genes, 864 up-regulated and 889 down-regulated, were observed to be differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among these, genes involved in metabolic response, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and vascular dysfunction were significantly differentially expressed (log2 FC > 4). The results were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot for CYP1B1, HMOX1, IL8, and GJA4. Pathway analysis revealed that DEGs were involved in the biological processes related to metabolism, inflammation, and host defense against environmental insults. This research is providing a further understanding of the mechanisms underlying PM2.5-induced cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Healthcare providers' perception of faecal microbiota transplantation with clostridium difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease: a quantitative systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are global gastroenterological diseases that cause considerable burden on human health, healthcare systems, and society. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective treatment for recurrent Clostridioides Difficile Infection (rCDI) and a promising therapy for IBD. However, indication for FMT in IBD is still unofficial. Consequently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is seeking healthcare providers' advice on whether to update FMT guidelines. METHODS: A systematic review methodology was adopted for this study. Five databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science) and grey literature were systematically searched for English language literature to 14 May 2021. The quality of the included studies was then appraised using the Institute for Public Health Sciences cross-sectional studies tool, after which the findings of the studies were narratively synthesised. RESULTS: Thirteen cross-sectional studies with 4110 validated questionnaire responses were included. Narrative synthesis found that 39.43% of respondents were familiar with FMT (N = 3746, 95%CI = 37.87%-41%), 58.81% of respondents would recommend FMT to their patients (N = 1141, 95%CI = 55.95%-61.67%), 66.67% of respondents considered lack of clinical evidence was the greatest concern regarding FMT (N = 1941, 95%CI = 64.57%-68.77%), and 40.43% respondents would not implement FMT due to concerns about infection transmission (N = 1128, 95%CI = 37.57%-43.29%). CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers' knowledge of FMT is relatively low and education is an effective strategy to improve it. As knowledge of FMT increases, willingness to recommend it also increases. Strengthening FMT clinical efficacy and reducing infection can enhance its public acceptance, application and popularity. However, further research is required to explore the donor screening procedure.

Air-Processed MAPbBr3 Perovskite Thin Film with Ultrastability and Enhanced Amplified Spontaneous Emission.

The poor stability, in particular with respect to temperature, moisture, and light exposure, remains a ubiquitous impediment virtually for metal halide perovskite materials and devices in their future practical application. Herein, from the perspective of precursor solution chemistry, ionic liquid solvent methylammonium acetate (MAAc) is introduced to prepare high-quality MAPbBr3 perovskite thin films in a one-step air-processing process without anti-solvent treatment. Due to formation of pinhole-free, uniform, and compact MAPbBr3 perovskite film, excellent amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) with high emission efficiency and low threshold is obtained under nanosecond laser. Furthermore, the prepared MAPbBr3 perovskite exhibits excellent two-photon induced ASE with a low threshold of 100 µJ cm-2 under 800 nm femtosecond laser excitation. More importantly, in comparison with the traditional MAPbBr3 films prepared with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the MAPbBr3 film prepared with MAAc shows excellent optical stability: no signs of degradation under more than 2 h pulsed laser excitation, stable ASE emission spectra under the humidity of 95% and ASE spectra can be stimulated when films are kept in air for more than 6000 h without encapsulation.

Delivery of apigenin-loaded magnetic Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2 nanocomposites to A549 cells and their antitumor mechanism.

This study introduces a mesoporous magnetic nano-system for the delivery of apigenin (API). A targeted therapeutic drug delivery system was prepared based on Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2-HA nanocomposites. Magnetic Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticles were first prepared via the rapid-combustion process. The effects of solvent type, solvent volume, calcination temperature, and calcination time on the crystal size and magnetism of the Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticles were investigated. The mesoporous silica shell was deposited on the Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticles using an improved Stöber method. HA was exploited as the targeting ligand. The specific surface area of the Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2 nanocomposites was 369.6 m2/g, which is 19 times higher than that of the magnetic Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticle cores. Drug release properties from the Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2-HA nanocomposites were studied, and the result showed that API-loaded nano-system had sustained release effect. Prussian blue staining and electrochemical performance variation showed that an external magnetic field facilitated cell uptake of Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2-HA nanocomposites. MTT assays showed that the cell inhibition effect of API-Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2-HA was stronger than that of free API at the same drug dose under a magnetic field and Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2-HA nanocomposites showed good biocompatibility. Fluorescence imaging, flow cytometry, western blot, reactive oxygen species (ROS), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) kits verified that the enhanced therapeutic action was due to the promotion of apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis. The magnetic nano-system (Fe2O3/Fe3O4@mSiO2-HA) showed good magnetic targeting and active hyaluronic acid targeting, and has the potential to provide a targeted delivery platform for many antitumor drugs.

All-inorganic Sn-based Perovskite Solar Cells: Status, Challenges, and Perspectives.

Recently, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSC) based on organic-inorganic hybrid Pb halide perovskites has reached 25.2 %. However, the toxicity of Pb has still been a main concern for the large-scale commercialization of Pb-based PSCs. Efforts have been made during the past few years to seek eco-friendly Pb-free perovskites, and it is a growing consensus that Sn is the best choice as Pb alternative over any other Pb-free metal elements. Among Sn-based perovskites, all-inorganic cells are promising candidates for PSCs owing to their more suitable bandgap, better stability, and higher charge mobility compared to the organic-inorganic hybrid counterparts. However, the poor phase stability of all-inorganic Sn-based perovskites (AISPs) and low PCE of their PSCs are most challenging in the field at present. Herein, recent developments on PSCs based on AISPs, including CsSnX3 and Cs2 SnX6 (X=Br, I), are comprehensively reviewed. Primarily, the intrinsic characteristics of the two AISPs are overviewed, including crystallographic property, band structure, charge carrier property, and defect property. Sequentially, state-of-the-art progress, regarding the photovoltaic application of AISPs as light absorber, is summarized. At last, current challenges and future opportunities of AISP-based PSCs are also discussed.

Optimization on Adsorption Process of Congo Red onto Magnetic Ni0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4/SiO2 Nanocomposites and Their Adsorption Mechanism.

Magnetic Ni0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites were prepared via a solution combustion process, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The magnetic Ni0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites were employed to remove Congo red (CR) from aqueous solution, and the adsorption process was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions were the silica content of 12.6 wt%, the calcination temperature of 501 °C and the pH value of 7.13. The adsorption kinetics and the adsorption isotherm of CR onto magnetic Ni0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4/SiO2 nanocomposites at room temperature were investigated, and the intraparticle diffusion kinetics model and Redlich-Peterson isotherm model fitted well the respective process.

Removal of Congo Red by Magnetic MnFe2O4 Nanosheets Prepared via a Facile Combustion Process.

Magnetic MnFe2O4 nanosheets were prepared via the facile combustion process, the morphology, chemical composition, microstructure and magnetic properties of them were investigated by SEM, EDX, XRD, TEM, SAED and VSM. The as-prepared magnetic MnFe2O4 nanosheets calcined at 400 °C for 2 h with absolute alcohol of 30 mL were characterized with average diameter of about 55 nm, the thickness of around 20 nm, the specific magnetization of 44.0 Am²/kg and the specific surface area of 49.6 m²/g. The removal behavior of Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions onto MnFe2O4 nanosheets was investigated by UV spectroscopy at room temperature; the adsorption kinetics data related to the adsorption of CR from aqueous solutions were in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model in the initial concentrations of 80-400 mg/L. By comparison of the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models for adsorption isotherms of CR, the Temkin model (correlation coefficient R² = 0.998) could be used to evaluate the adsorption isotherm of CR onto the magnetic MnFe2O4 nanosheets at room temperature, which suggested that the adsorption of CR onto the magnetic MnFe2O4 nanosheets was a hybrid of monolayer and multilayer absorbing mechanism.

Optimization of Citrate-Gel Preparation Process for Magnetic Ni-Zn Ferrite Nanoparticles.

Magnetic Ni-Zn ferrite nanoparticles were prepared via the citrate-gel process, their microstructure and the properties were characterized by XRD, VSM, SEM, and TEM techniques. For smaller grain size and larger specific saturation magnetization, the preparation technology for magnetic Ni-Zn ferrite nanoparticles was optimized, and the optimization conditions followed as: the molar ratio of Ni, Zn and Fe was 1:1:4, citric acid was applied according to the mole ratio of 1:1 for citric acid and metal, the solvent of 100 mL was the mixed liquor of alcohol and water with volume ratio of 1:1, pH value was 1, reaction time was 24 h, the calcination temperature was 400 °C, and the heating rate was 3 °C/min. The average crystallite size of the as-prepared Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles calcined under the optimization conditions was around 14 nm, and the specific saturation magnetization was about 46 emu/g.

Transcriptomic Analyses of the Biological Effects of Airborne PM2.5 Exposure on Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells.

Epidemiological studies have associated high levels of airborne particulate matter (PM) with increased respiratory diseases. In order to investigate the mechanisms of air pollution-induced lung toxicity in humans, human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were exposed to various concentrations of particles smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) collected from Beijing, China. After observing that PM2.5 decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, we first used Illumina RNA-seq to identify genes and pathways that may contribute to PM2.5-induced toxicity to 16HBE cells. A total of 539 genes, 283 up-regulated and 256 down-regulated, were identified to be significantly differentially expressed after exposure to 25 µg/cm2 PM2.5. PM2.5 induced a large number of genes involved in responses to xenobtiotic stimuli, metabolic response, and inflammatory and immune response pathways such as MAPK signaling and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, which might contribute to PM2.5-related pulmonary diseases. We then confirmed our RNA-seq results by qPCR and by analysis of IL-6, CYP1A1, and IL-8 protein expression. Finally, ELISA assay demonstrated a significant association between exposure to PM2.5 and secretion of IL-6. This research provides a new insight into the mechanisms underlying PM2.5-induced respiratory diseases in Beijing.

Depletion of PKM2 leads to impaired glycolysis and cell death in 2-demethoxy-2,3-ethylenediamino hypocrellin B-photoinduced A549 cells.

2-Demethoxy-2,3-ethylenediamino hypocrellin B (EDAHB) is an efficient photosensitizer that mediates cancer cell apoptosis. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in its antitumour activity, we used proteomics technology to identify candidate targets in A549 cells using EDAHB-mediated photodynamic therapy (EDAHB-PDT). The protein profile changes between untreated and PDT-treated A549 cells were analysed using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Differentially expressed protein spots were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry; and 15 differentially expressed proteins (over 2-fold, p<0.05) were identified in PDT-treated A549 cells compared with untreated cells. Among them, the expression of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a key enzyme involved in glycolysis, was found to be significantly decreased in A549 cells following EDAHB-PDT. Transient ectopic over-expression of PKM2 attenuated death of EDAHB-PDT-treated A549 cells, whereas knockdown of PKM2 expression by RNA interference increased the photocytotoxicity of EDAHB. Moreover, a decrease in lactate production was detected in PDT-treated A549 cells. These observations suggest that PKM2 plays an important role in the antitumour action of EDAHB-PDT; thus, it may be a potential molecular target to increase the efficacy of PDT in cancer therapy.